They have their own way of conducting property transactions in Spain  and it all hinges on the notary. Understand how the system works to keep out of trouble, says Mark Stucklin

Manila envelopes stuffed with cash, under-the-table payments and high-and-mighty notaries charging hefty fees for a perfunctory reading of the deeds — there’s no denying that buying a home in Spain can have its moments of exotic drama.

Completion

The overall objectives of the completion process in Spain are exactly the same as in the UK: ensuring that the vendor gets paid, that the buyer gets their title deeds and that the government gets its taxes.

Title deeds

As a buyer, your objective is to get your title inscribed in the Registro de la Propiedad, Spain’s equivalent of the Land Register. This is the only truly secure form of property ownership in Spain.

You can’t inscribe your title until the deeds of sale have been signed by all parties in the presence of a public notary (notario). Though they earn their fees from private individuals and companies, notaries are essentially public